GMP Becomes 3rd Largest Socimi In Spain

21 July 2016 – El Confidencial

(…) In the audit report just realised by the group owned by the Montoro family, the Socimi GMP confesses that the real estate consultancy Savills has granted its real estate investments a fair value of €1,349 million, representing an increase compared to their value last year (€1,192 million). That figure places the Socimi at the same level as Hispania, and as such, means that it is competing directly with the company led by Concha Osácar and Fernando Gumuzia for third place in the national ranking of the large listed real estate companies in Spain, behind Merlin-Metrovacesa and Colonial.

In order to build up this portfolio, the company has benefitted from the invaluable assistance of the Singapore Sovereign Fund (GIC) since October 2014, following the fund’s acquisition of 32.9% of its share capital, as part of an agreement to spend €61.5 million on the shares. It has also committed to invest another €67 million before the end of March, which will allow GMP to maintain its pace of investment during its first few months as a listed company.

Given that the Socimi was constituted two years ago…the company is obliged to debut on the stock market before 30 September 2016. Nevertheless, as the company itself acknowledges in its audit report, its aim is to complete this process before it goes on holiday in August. This means that, if it obtains all the necessary authorisations, it may join the MAB – the Alternative Investment Market – within the next two weeks.

Financial situation

Despite the spectacular valuation of its assets, GMP has debt with credit institutions amounting to €800 million. The first key date in this regard will come in 2017, when debt amounting to €741.9 million is due to mature; that gives the company enough time to adapt its financial commitments, especially its syndicated mortgage loan with Société Générale.

At the end of 2015, the Socimi’s share capital amounted to €9.4 million, represented by 1.9 million shares with a nominal value of €4.92, although three weeks ago the company approved a split of the nominal value of its shares, as a preliminary step ahead of its debut on the stock market.

GMP Property’s revenues from rental income amounted to €57.35 million in 2015, compared with €65.83 million in 2014. The decrease was driven by the remodelling of some of its properties, which the company is currently engaged in, such as BBVA’s former headquarters on Castellana 81. In addition, the company received turnover of €4.35 million from the renting of car parks and €9 million from the provision of services, taking its total operating income to €59.8 million, compared with €65.8 million in 2014.